Note: The original article was posted on 12-26-06 by myself (Medievaldragon) during closed beta. The one posted by a fan at the Worldofraids forum was a copy/paste of my original unedited article. It wasn’t pasted by the Worldofraids staff. Not the other way around in case anyone wonders. The forum thread mentions source: Blizzplanet at the head of their thread. This is to clear it up for whoever claims this is a copy from worldofraids or elsewhere.  This article is also linked to by wowinsider since 12-27-06 (thanks, buddies) and by our friendly Wow-Europe MVP Schwick. This article has been revised and edited to add new info (2-28-07). On with the show!

By Medievaldragon

Caverns of Time: Mount Hyjal shipped with World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade expansion at retail launch. The dungeon requires a 25-player raid group. However, not everyone can enter the dungeon right away. This dungeon requires many pre-requirements:

1. You must be level 70

2. Complete Caverns of Time: Durnholde (Old Hillsbrad) available at lvl 66, and Complete Caverns of Time: Dark Portal (Black Morass). You get access to the Mount Hyjal Quest after you finish Old Hillsbrad dungeon. However, you need to finish Dark Portal (Black Morass) to get the Master’s Key to Karazhan from Medivh when you beat the last boss in Black Morass. Which in turn, allows you to complete the Lady Vashj’s Dungeon quest which requires to kill Nightbane. You will read more throughout this guide.

3. Talk to Soridormi (Adult) – the consort of Nozdormu. You may find her roaming around the clockwork in Caverns of Time. She will give you a quest titled: The Vial’s of Eternity.

However, this is no 1-2-3 immediate quest. To acquire the two vials of eternity requires the completition of many quest chains that will take months to accomplish and good gear. You must have the Dungeon 3.5 gear-sets such as Hallowed (Priest) and Assassination (Rogue) from Arcatraz, Shadow Labyrinth and similar dungeons to prepare you for Karazhan, Gruul’s Lair and Magtheridon’s Lair (Check out 10.3Q Dungeon 3 sets—by Schwick). In those three high-end 25-players raid dungeons you may in turn acquire tokens for the Tier 4 Armor Set that will prepare you for Kael’Thas and Lady Vashj’s dungeons. Tempest Keep: Eye of the Storm (Kael’Thas Dungeon) and Serpentshrine (Lady Vashj’s dungeon) are rumored to drop Tier 5 Armor Set tokens. Blizzard recently revealed Tier 6 sets will drop at the Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley.

The Tier 4 and Tier 5 set armor are acquired from Vendors in Shattrath City. If you are Aldor faction, you can find them at the Shrine of Unending Light in the Aldor Rise—where you find Ishanah (High Priestess of the Aldor). Tier 4 is sold by Kelara (Keeper of Sha’tari Heirlooms) and Tier 5 is sold by Asuur (Keeper of Sha’tari Artifacts). Blizzard recently announced the Tier set itemization will be revised to make a wider gap between the stats of Tier 4 and 5.

If you are Scryer faction, go to The Seer’s Library at the Scryer’s Tier in Shattrath City. Tier 4 set armor is sold by Veynna Dawnstar (Keeper of Sha’tari Heirlooms), and Tier 5 is sold by Arodis Sunblade (Keeper of Sha’tari Artifacts).

Tier 4 Chest = Magtheridon (25-man, 1 token)
Tier 4 Leggings = Gruul(25-man, 1 token)
Tier 4 Shoulders = Maulgar(25-man, 1 token)
Tier 4 Gloves = Karazhan: The Curator(10-man, 1 token)
Tier 4 Helm = Karazhan: Prince Malchezaar(10-man, 1 token)


ARCATRAZ ATTUNEMENT

The quest to become attuned for Arcatraz, as requirement for the Kael’thas dungeon key starts in Area 52, Netherstorm. Find the Consortium Ethereal Nether-Stalker Khay’ji in Area 52 and complete his quest. He sends you to Gahruj at Midrealm Eco-dome, who asks you to gather some supplies from Manaforge Duro. Thereafter Gahruj sends you to Nexus-Prince Haramad who starts the Triangulation quest-chain that leads to killing Culuthas the Dreadlord (located at Ruins of Farahlon). The chain ends when Nexus-Prince Haramaad sends you to A’dal with a crystal. (Read the Arcatraz Key Attunement Walkthrough)

A’dal will give you the Arcatraz Key quest. The Arcatraz crystal key is divided in two halves. The first half is held by the last boss of Tempest Keep: BotanicaWarp Splinter. The second half is held by the last boss of Tempest Keep: MechanarPathaleon the Calculator.

NOTE: Five players can enter Arcatraz if one player has the gate key. Optionally, a rogue with 360-lockpicking skill can open the gate. However, all five players need the heroic-mode key to access Arcatraz Heroic-dungeon to complete another requirement for Kael’thas dungeon key. Which means you gotta be revered with the Sha’tar faction to buy the Arcatraz Heroic-mode key from the Sha’tar Quartermaster vendor Almaador (he is next to G’eras at the Terrace of Light, near Khadgar).

TEMPEST KEEP: EYE OF THE STORM ATTUNEMENT
(Prince Kael’Thas Dungeon)

To start the Kael’Thas dungeon Attunement questline you need to go to Shadowmoon Valley. You must complete the Cipher of Damnation quest-chain – which starts at the Hand of Gul’dan, where you see Earthen Ring NPCs and the avatar of Gul’dan. And you must complete a Stormspire quest in Netherstorm.

Brace yourself – – you need to be revered with the Sha’tar Reputation faction to obtain the Tempest Keep Heroic-Dungeon key, Revered with the Lower City to obtain the Auchenai Key to unlock the Auchindoun Dungeons in Heroic-mode, Revered with the Cenarion Expedition to unlock the Heroic-mode for Coilfang Reservoir dungeons, and Revered with Thrallmar/Honor Hold to unlock the Heroic-mode Difficulty for Hellfire Citadel dungeons. Hope you have had fun reading this far.

Complete Trial of the Naaru: Mercy; Trial of the Naaru: Strength; and Trial of the Naaru: Tenacity. No easy task … for you have to complete the three trials in Heroic-mode. Trash mobs hit for 15,000 non-crit damage at Shadow Labyrinth and Arcatraz (in Heroic Mode), no less. You have to kill Murmur in Auchindoun: Shadow Laberynth to loot his essence, retrieve an unused Axe of the Executioner from Hellfire Citadel: Shattered Halls (an NPC and two assassins spawn behind Kargath Bloodfist when he dies—get the axe from that NPC), Kalithresh’s Trident in Coilfang Reservoir: Steamvaults, and to rescue Millhouse Manastorm (gnome) after killing the last boss of Tempest Keep: Arcatraz (a Qiraji resembling Skeram). Once you have completed those four dungeons in Heroic-mode, return to A’dal.  Someone told me A’dal sends you to Magtheridon Lair and afterward A’dal grants you the Tempest Key to enter Prince Kael’Thas dungeon—which requires 25 players. Kill Kael’Thas and loot his Vial of Eternity.

SERPENTSHRINE DUNGEON ATTUNEMENT
(Lady Vashj Dungeon)

Another requirement for Caverns of Time: Mount Hyjal is to kill Lady Vashj and to loot her Vial of Eternity’s remnant. To start the quest chain to acquire Lady Vashj’s dungeon key you must enter the Coilfang Reservoir: Slave Pens dungeon in Heroic-mode. I was able to get this quest from a Naga named Skar’this the Heretic, who is held prisoner inside one of those weird-shaped cages. He spawns in Heroic-mode by the area where you jump down a platform into the water. To the far left of the pool you can find this Naga NPC inside the cage. He starts the quest: The Cudgel of Kar’desh.


THE CUDGEL OF KAR’DESH

Skar’this the Heretic in the heroic Slave Pens of Coilfang Reservoir wants you to bring him the Earthen Signet and the Blazing Signet.

Earthen Signet: 0/1
Blazing Signet: 0/1

DESCRIPTION
Bring me the Elemental signets that the cudgel requires!

The earthen signet is held by Gruul the Dragonkiller. Gruul can be found inside his lair in the Blade’s Edge Mountains.

The second signet is the blazing heart of a creature known as Nightbane. This mythical beast is said to reside in the hallowed halls of the prophet, Medivh.

Make haste!

REWARDS
The Mark of Vashj – Allows the wearer to enter Serpentshrine Cavern: Lair of Lady Vashj. (50,000 yd range)

NOTE: Obviously, you need to have completed the Karazhan Attunement to kill Nightsbane. Arcatraz has one of the three-fragments to assemble the Karazhan Key, and you need to complete Caverns of Time: Dark Portal in order to get the Karazhan key from Medivh (Master’s Key). Gruul’s Lair is open to anyone and doesn’t require attunement.


By now you should be Friendly with the Scales of the Sands faction in order to enter Caverns of Time: Mount Hyjal..

In this dungeon you go back in time 4 years into the past to fight alongside Malfurion Stormrage, Tyrande Whisperwind, Thrall, and Jaina Proudmoore against Archimonde and the Burning Legion. Your mission is to stop the Infinity Dragonflight from altering time.


THE VIALS OF ETERNITY

INTRO

Soridormi: The Battle of Mount Hyjal is one of the most well-guarded events of this timeline. Should an intruder alter its outcome, the impact would extend to all subsequent moments in history.

As the Aspect’s prime mate I’m far more in tune with the flow of time than other bronze dragons. I recently sensed a minute ripple in time emanating from the events surrounding the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Someone or something is attempting to change this timeline and they must be stopped.

Soridormi: Seven vials were drawn from the Well of Eternity by Illidan. He poured three into the lake on top of Mount Hyjal and a second Well of Eternity was created. For years the rest were believed lost.

With the opening of the Dark Portal, we’ve come to know that he gave one each to his lieutenants Kael’thas and Vashj. Retrieve what remains of them; we wil need them as foci to open a gateway to any events tied to Mount Hyjal, recent or ancient. The outcome of the Battle of Mount Hyjal must be preserved.

I’ve asked the impossible of you, yet I expect you to succeed. Much depends on it.

QUEST OBJECTIVES

Soridormi at Caverns of Time wants you to retrieve Vashj’s Vial Remnant from Lady Vashj at Coilfang Reservoir and Kael’s Vial Remnant from Kael’Thas Sunstrider at Tempest Keep.

Rewards: 24g 60s


Thanks to the following contributors:

Saphira@Barthilas – Correction

Suction@Kel’Thuzad – Correction

Emeraude@Sargeras—provided Tier 4 token locations